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November 12, 2025 Climate and environment

Delegates gathered in Belém, Brazil, for the 30th UN Climate Change Conference (COP30) want to save the planet from catastrophic temperature increases. But their efforts are threatened by misinformation that could undermine the fight against global warming.

On Wednesday, a group of 12 countries signed the Declaration on Trustworthy Information on Climate Change. The document sets out specific measures to combat false content online and stop targeted attacks on journalists, scientists, and researchers working on climate and environmental issues. Brazil, Canada, Chile, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Spain, Sweden, Uruguay, the Netherlands, and Belgium joined the declaration.

Read also:

What's important to know about climate change: A WMO expert discusses alarming trends, the spread of misinformation, and the need for joint action.

This was announced as part of the Global Climate Initiative. Launched in June of this year, the initiative is being implemented by the Brazilian government, the UN Department of Global Communications, and UNESCO.

Disinformation could derail negotiations

COP30 Special Envoy for Credibility, Frederico Assis, told the UN News Service that "disinformation… fuels political extremism and puts human lives at risk." He warned of the real risk of interference in the climate negotiations.

"It is widely recognized that disinformation can jeopardize any part of the COP process—whether diplomatic negotiations, agenda implementation, mobilization [of the international community], or the organization of summits. All our efforts will be jeopardized if we fail to adequately counter disinformation, which is rooted in denial of the facts," Assis noted.

He expressed concern about algorithms that amplify "conspiratorial and manipulative content" and use "sophisticated tactics to spread false messages."

In his role as special envoy, Assis draws global attention to the problem of climate disinformation.

Mechanisms of false information

In an interview with the UN News Service, UNESCO Director of Digital Inclusion, Policy, and Transformation Guilherme Canela emphasized that the topic of information reliability is included on the official agenda of the COP for the first time.

He noted that the global initiative will help better understand the mechanisms by which disinformation spreads.

"We still know very little about what lies behind this process. For example, who funds these types of publications? Why do they spread faster than other content? How does this happen? Without understanding these mechanisms, it's impossible to develop effective strategies to combat this phenomenon," Canela said.

“The essence of the initiative is precisely to fund, especially in countries of the Global South, investigative journalism and research projects that allow us to understand what is really going on,” he added.

Canela noted that “it is extremely gratifying to see this topic receive such strong support at COP30.”

The Global Climate Confidence Facility, established within the initiative, has already received 447 applications from nearly 100 countries, two-thirds of which are from developing countries.

With initial funding of $1 million from Brazil, the fund began supporting the first series of projects.

Changing forms of disinformation

Speaking to UN News, digital influencer Maria Clara Morais said that combating climate disinformation is "entirely possible, but extremely difficult."

Marias Verdes, co-founder of the platform, which has over 500,000 followers on TikTok, noted that disinformation is carefully orchestrated and "supported by powerful forces, primarily the oil and gas industry."

Narratives that discredit climate action "change shape" over time, she said.

"There are many forms of disinformation. One of the most dangerous is the claim that it's too late, that nothing can be done, or that events like COP30 don't change anything. That's also disinformation," Morais said.

“We must continually reaffirm the value of multilateral cooperation and the importance of platforms such as this,” she stressed.

Hope for the younger generation

Morais says that through her work on sustainability and science, she has noticed a growing public awareness of the climate crisis.

She emphasized that the younger generation is becoming a “source of hope and optimism.”

Morais noted the role of each person in creating "micro-revolutions" – everyday actions and decisions that support climate initiatives and contribute to large-scale systemic change.

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November 12, 2025 UN

The top news of the day at the UN and around the world: the UN has identified "hot spots" threatened by full-scale famine, new data on Ukraine, a report on the situation in Afghanistan, and a UN-African Union Conference.

Hunger Situation Report

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the World Food Programme (WFP) are warning of a rapidly deteriorating food situation in 16 global hotspots. In most of these hotspots, famine is being driven by armed conflict, economic upheaval, extreme weather conditions, and funding shortages. The authors emphasize that time is running out to prevent mass starvation. Six countries and territories are of particular concern: Haiti, Mali, Palestine, South Sudan, Sudan, and Yemen.

Monthly report on Ukraine

Attacks on Ukraine's energy infrastructure increased in October, resulting in a high number of civilian deaths and injuries, according to the UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine (UNHRM). Last month, three large-scale attacks on energy infrastructure occurred, leading to power outages in most regions of the country. At least 148 civilians were killed and 929 injured in October, matching the high figures from the previous two months.

The humanitarian situation in Afghanistan

The already dire humanitarian situation in Afghanistan is being exacerbated by the mass return of refugees, according to a report published today by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). The country is forced to absorb millions of people. UNDP also emphasizes the urgent need to lift all existing restrictions against women, including restoring their ability to work and leave the home, and allowing girls to attend school. Nine out of ten Afghan households report resorting to negative coping strategies, including reducing food intake, selling assets, and using credit.

UN-African Union Conference

The 9th annual African Union-United Nations Conference took place at UN Headquarters in New York on Wednesday. Participants focused on joint action on issues related to peace, security, and human rights. Financing for development and combating climate change were discussed, as well as the implementation of the African Strategy on Women, Peace, and Security.

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November 12, 2025 Healthcare

The World Health Organization (WHO) released its annual Global Tuberculosis Report on Wednesday, warning that despite significant advances in diagnosis, treatment, and innovation, funding shortfalls and unequal access to care could reverse the progress made.

According to the WHO, tuberculosis claimed more than 1.2 million lives and affected about 10.7 million people last year, remaining one of the deadliest infectious diseases in the world.

Reducing the global burden of tuberculosis

WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus noted that the decline in the global burden of tuberculosis and progress in testing, treatment, and social protection are encouraging news after years of setbacks. However, he said, "progress is not victory," and the fact that the disease continues to claim lives annually, despite its preventability and curability, is "inexcusable." WHO calls on countries to accelerate efforts to end tuberculosis by 2030.

According to the report, between 2023 and 2024, the number of tuberculosis cases decreased by almost two percent, and deaths by three percent. This indicates the restoration of key health services after the pandemic. COVID-19.

Progress is particularly noticeable in the WHO African and European Regions: from 2015 to 2024, incidence rates in Africa decreased by 28 percent and mortality by 46 percent; in Europe, by 39 percent and 49 percent, respectively. More than 100 countries have achieved a 20 percent reduction in incidence rates, and 65 countries have achieved a 35 percent or more reduction in mortality, achieving the first targets of the WHO End TB Strategy.

However, global elimination of the disease is impossible without accelerated progress in countries with the highest burden. In 2024, 87 percent of all new TB cases were reported in 30 countries, with eight of them—India, Indonesia, the Philippines, China, Pakistan, Nigeria, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Bangladesh—accounting for 67 percent of the total.

Timely treatment saves lives

Since 2000, timely treatment has saved approximately 83 million lives. In 2024, 8.3 million people received treatment, accounting for 78 percent of all cases. Rapid diagnostic testing was used to detect 54 percent of cases, and the treatment success rate for susceptible forms of tuberculosis reached 88 percent.

Among 30 countries with a high TB burden, social protection coverage ranges from 3.1 percent in Uganda to 94 percent in Mongolia, and in 19 countries it is less than 50 percent. The report also highlights the role of risk factors—malnutrition, HIV, diabetes, smoking, and alcohol—and the need for a multisectoral approach to combating the epidemic.

Funding shortfall

However, progress remains far from the goals set out in the WHO strategy. Tuberculosis funding has stalled: only $5.9 billion has been accumulated by 2024 – just over a quarter of the $22 billion target.

Cutting international aid from 2025 could lead to two million additional deaths and ten million new cases by 2035. Research funding is also lagging: in 2023, it was $1.2 billion—only 24 percent of the target. Nevertheless, by August 2025, 63 new diagnostic tests, 29 drugs, and 18 vaccines were in development.

"We have entered a critical phase in the fight against tuberculosis," said Tereza Kasaeva, Director of the WHO Department of HIV, Tuberculosis, Hepatitis, and Sexually Transmitted Infections. She emphasized that funding cuts and persistent risk factors threaten the progress made, but with political will, investment, and global solidarity, humanity can overcome this ancient disease.

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November 12, 2025 Human rights

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk addressed the French Senate. He stated that the current human rights situation is challenging. He stated that the world is experiencing a moment when the fundamental freedoms for which the UN was founded are under threat.

Turk noted that millions of people around the world continue to defend the principles of equality and justice, but these values are simultaneously under attack.

Human rights in wartime

Turning to issues of war and violence, the High Commissioner stressed that the need to respect international humanitarian law is particularly evident in conflict situations.

Speaking about Sudan, he called the situation in El Fasher "absolutely devastating."

"We are receiving disturbing reports that the Rapid Action Force is committing atrocities, including summary executions, sexual violence and other abuses," he said.

Türk called on all states to respect the arms embargo in Darfur and stressed that the protection of civilians, humanitarian access, and a return to civilian rule remain priorities.

"All countries must comply with the Security Council arms embargo on Darfur, which should be extended to the entire country."

Turk drew attention to the situation in Gaza, as well as in the West Bank, where, according to him, violence by Israeli security forces and settlers continues.

"Over the past two years, more than 1,000 Palestinians have been killed [in the West Bank], the vast majority of whom died at the hands of Israeli security forces," Turk said.

He called for the ceasefire in Gaza to be observed: “All parties to the conflict in Gaza must faithfully implement the ceasefire… Israel must ensure a large-scale flow of humanitarian aid in accordance with its obligations.”

Speaking about Ukraine, Türk noted that the war is leading to an increasing number of civilian casualties, and attacks on energy infrastructure are especially dangerous as winter approaches.

"Peace is urgently needed – in accordance with the UN Charter, international law and General Assembly resolutions," the UN's top human rights official said.

Violations of rights are an alarm signal

The High Commissioner stressed that human rights violations often serve as "alarm signals" that foreshadow the outbreak of violence, and called on States to pay greater attention to conflict prevention.

He also expressed concern about the growing funding of anti-human rights groups and movements. According to him, in Europe alone, such groups received nearly $1.2 billion from 2019 to 2023.

"We're seeing similar trends in other regions. Some states are allocating significant resources to groups that oppose gender equality and human rights and operate abroad," Türk said.

“The consequences of this are already being felt by many, including women who have experienced gender-based violence, members of the LGBTIQ community, migrants and refugees,” he added.

Türk noted that the UN Human Rights Office (OHCHR), which he heads, remains a reliable partner of states and civil society, monitoring and documenting violations and collecting evidence.

Last year, the Office conducted 11,000 human rights monitoring missions in 92 countries, and in 2024, it facilitated the release of more than 3,000 unlawfully detained individuals.

He also emphasized the need to regulate artificial intelligence in accordance with human rights. According to the Commissioner, the UN is collaborating with states and IT companies to develop common principles in this area.

"We are working with governments, social media, and civil society to align laws and policies on new technologies, including artificial intelligence, with human rights," Türk said.

The desire for freedom will not disappear

Despite all the difficulties, the High Commissioner expressed confidence that people's aspirations for freedom and dignity will not disappear.

He called on members of the Senate to take action to encourage everyone to defend human rights, and noted the activism of youth movements around the world – from Ecuador and Peru to Kenya and Nepal.

In closing, Türk noted that this year marks the 80th anniversary of the founding of the UN and expressed hope that international cooperation can overcome current challenges.

He also noted that the OHCHR "is in an extremely difficult financial situation" and expressed hope that the United States would resume funding.

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November 12, 2025 Humanitarian aid

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the World Food Programme (WFP) released a joint report on Wednesday warning of a rapidly deteriorating food situation in 16 global hotspots. In most of these hotspots, famine is being driven by armed conflict, economic shocks, extreme weather conditions, and funding shortages.

The report covers the period from November 2025 to May 2026, and its authors emphasize that time is running out to prevent mass famine.

The report states that six countries and territories are of the greatest concern – Haiti, Mali, Palestine, South Sudan, Sudan, and Yemen – where populations are on the brink of catastrophic famine. Six more countries, including Afghanistan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Myanmar, Nigeria, Somalia, and Syria, are classified as "very high risk." Burkina Faso, Chad, Kenya, and the situation of the Rohingya people in Bangladesh are also on the list of hotspots.

Despite the growing need for assistance, funding for humanitarian programs has been sharply reduced. Of the $29 billion needed, only $10.5 billion had been received by the end of October. This has led to ration cuts, the suspension of school feeding programs, and a reduction in assistance to refugees and displaced persons. The FAO also warns that underfunding is jeopardizing agricultural initiatives, including seed supplies, veterinary services, and preventative measures before planting seasons.

FAO and WFP emphasize that famine is predictable and preventable. They call on the international community to urgently focus on preventing famine, invest in resilience and food security, and ensure unimpeded humanitarian access in conflict zones.

According to WFP Director General Cindy McCain, the world is on the brink of a preventable catastrophe, and delay will lead to increased instability, increased migration, and new conflicts.

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November 12, 2025 Refugees and migrants

A shipwreck off the coast of Libya left 42 migrants missing and likely drowned. This is the latest tragic episode on the central Mediterranean route, where more than a thousand people have already died since the beginning of the year.

According to the International Organization for Migration (IOM), 49 refugees and migrants were on board a rubber dinghy that departed from the city of Zuwara in northwestern Libya on November 3. Six hours later, the boat capsized: high waves disabled the engine, and all occupants—47 men and two women—were thrown overboard.

The boat drifted at sea for six days before Libyan authorities rescued seven men on November 8: four from Sudan, two from Nigeria, and one from Cameroon. Among those missing were 29 from Sudan, eight from Somalia, three from Cameroon, and two from Nigeria.

IOM said the survivors were provided emergency medical care in coordination with local authorities.

This tragedy occurred just weeks after several other deadly incidents off the coast of Surman, Libya, and the island of Lampedusa, Italy. According to the IOM's Missing Migrants project, the death toll along the Central Mediterranean route has already exceeded 1,000.

"This new shipwreck brings the overall death toll even higher, highlighting the urgent need for stronger regional cooperation, expanded safe and legal migration routes, and more effective search and rescue operations," the IOM said in a statement.

The Central Mediterranean route remains the world's deadliest, with more than 25,600 people dead or missing since the migrant tracking project was launched in 2014.

The main causes of deaths are the length of the journey, dangerous smuggling schemes, a lack of rescue resources, and limitations on the work of NGOs saving lives at sea. Furthermore, migrants often cross the sea in overloaded and unseaworthy inflatable boats, complicating rescue operations, especially when several such vessels are launched at once.

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November 12, 2025 Human rights

Attacks on Ukraine's energy infrastructure increased in October, resulting in a high number of civilian deaths and injuries, the UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine reported today in its monthly report.

Last month, three large-scale attacks on energy infrastructure occurred – on October 10, 22, and 30 – resulting in power outages across most of the country. November brought no relief: attacks on Ukraine's power grid again caused nationwide power outages.

At least 148 civilians were killed and 929 wounded in October, matching the high figures of the previous two months.

"Another winter is approaching for civilians in Ukraine, and increasing attacks on energy infrastructure and associated power outages are increasing the risks to the population," said Danielle Bell, Head of the Monitoring Mission.

"Any prolonged interruption in heat, electricity or water supplies will create extreme hardship, particularly for the elderly, people with disabilities, families with young children and women, who often bear the primary responsibility for care," she added.

In October, two-thirds of civilian casualties were recorded in areas close to the front line, and one-third were in parts of Ukraine located further from the front line, including Kyiv, where people were killed and injured mainly as a result of the use of long-range missiles and drones.

The number of civilian casualties in the period January to October 2025 is 27 percent higher than in the same period last year, and the total number of casualties in the first ten months of 2025 has already exceeded the total number of casualties for all of 2024.

It was also reported that Ukrainian armed forces attacked energy and industrial facilities in the Russian Federation. However, the Monitoring Mission was unable to verify the impact of these attacks on the civilian population.

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November 11, 2025 Climate and environment

Amid rapidly rising temperatures and increasingly frequent extreme weather events, participants at the UN Climate Change Conference (COP30) in Belém, Brazil, are discussing how technology can help adapt to new realities without exacerbating the climate crisis. Particular attention is being paid to artificial intelligence (AI) and energy-intensive cooling systems.

AI is already helping farmers predict droughts and optimize irrigation, but its environmental footprint is raising concerns among experts. At the same time, demand for powerful cooling systems is growing: amid deadly heat waves, they are becoming a necessity, while remaining one of the largest sources of greenhouse gas emissions.

The conference's talks center on the Technology Enablement Program, designed to ensure access to vital innovations for those who need them most. However, progress is slow: intellectual property rules, commercial restrictions, and financial barriers continue to hinder developing countries, despite the growing urgency of the problem.

The Cooling Dilemma

COP30 Executive Director Ana Toni is taking part in discussions on technological solutions that could accelerate the fight against the climate crisis – from early warning systems for floods to satellite monitoring of methane concentrations.

Read also:

COP30: Sustainable cooling technologies will help reduce emissions and save trillions of dollars

On Tuesday, the topic of energy-intensive cooling systems returned to the forefront with the launch of the Beat the Heat initiative, a joint project between Brazil, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), and partners from the Cool Coalition. Its goal is to make cooling more affordable and less polluting in a world where deadly heatwaves are becoming the norm.

Demand for cooling systems is expected to triple by 2050 due to rising temperatures and population. Without intervention, emissions from cooling could nearly double, overwhelming energy grids and jeopardizing climate goals.

Artificial intelligence is off the agenda, but in the spotlight

While AI is not on the agenda for formal negotiations at COP30, it is being actively discussed within the Platform for Action, a mechanism designed to mobilize voluntary climate action from civil society, businesses, investors, cities, and regions.

The Brazilian government is highlighting successful projects using AI to improve climate resilience at the forum. One such example is the initiative of Lao researcher Alice Louangrath, who developed an AI-powered irrigation system in Savannakhet Province, which suffers from water shortages and climate stress. Louangrath was awarded the 2025 AI for Climate Action Prize.

According to Luangrath, the system combines soil moisture sensors, groundwater monitoring, and weather data with AI-powered analytics. The technology predicts soil conditions, water availability, and the risk of floods or extreme heat. Farmers receive real-time updates via a mobile app, helping them plan crops and irrigation more efficiently.

In an interview with the UN News Service, she expressed hope that participation in COP30 will help establish partnerships to disseminate this technology to other countries vulnerable to climate shocks. All AI models and data processing tools in her project will be freely available for use and development.

The environmental cost of digital solutions

As AI adoption grows, so do concerns about its environmental footprint.

Lua Cruz, coordinator of telecommunications and digital rights at the Brazilian Institute for Consumer Protection, pointed out that even everyday digital activity – from smartphone use to online communications – depends on the operation of giant data centers.

"These facilities consume enormous amounts of energy and water for cooling, occupy large areas, and require significant mining to produce their components," he explained.

Cruz added that many data centers ignore environmental restrictions, choosing regions with minimal regulation and generous tax incentives.

Brazil, like several other countries, is seeking to attract such facilities—a move that, according to Cruz, could exacerbate water shortages. He cited the moratorium on new data centers in the Netherlands and the dismantling of facilities in Chile and Uruguay, which contributed to droughts.

The Brazilian Institute for Consumer Protection is involved in two legal cases in Brazil. One concerns TikTok's planned data center in Caucaí, near indigenous land; the other concerns a facility in El Dorado do Sul, a city more than 80 percent flooded after devastating floods last year.

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November 11, 2025 Peace and security

The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) has released a new analytical report warning that transnational organized crime has become one of the most complex and rapidly evolving threats of our time. With the advancement of globalization, digital technology, and increasing geopolitical instability, criminal networks are becoming increasingly diverse, flexible, and difficult to track.

From the Mafia to Cyber Cartels

The report defines transnational organized crime as any serious activity committed by groups for financial or other material gain that transcends national borders. Today, it involves a wide range of actors—from mafias, clans, and drug cartels to cybercriminal networks, armed groups, and even legitimate companies intentionally or inadvertently involved in illicit supply chains.

Some groups, such as street gangs, operate locally, while others, such as the Kompania Bello criminal network, have branches across three continents. Classic mafia structures like Cosa Nostra maintain a hierarchical model, while West African cybercrime groups operate horizontally, bringing together professionals, brokers, and intermediaries, including lawyers and financiers, who help launder proceeds and penetrate the legitimate economy.

Conflicts as a breeding ground for criminal networks

According to the UNODC, armed conflicts not only destroy illicit markets but also create fertile ground for them. Following Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, for example, traditional drug trafficking routes were disrupted, but online fraud also increased. In the Sahel, criminal groups smuggle fuel to supply armed groups, and in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, armed groups profit from the illegal mining and export of gold.

Some conflicts flare up precisely because of the struggle for control over smuggling routes or gold mines, as is happening in Africa, Southeast Asia, and Latin America. As a result, organized crime not only fuels violence but also weakens trust in states, fostering corruption and undermining the rule of law.

Additionally, there has been a rise in cybercrime emanating from Eastern Europe, where individual groups operate in close collaboration with transnational networks and engage in online fraud, financial scams, and blackmail using artificial intelligence and cryptocurrency.

Shadow power: criminal control of territories

Many criminal groups take control of territories by establishing their own rules—a system of "criminal governance." They may operate through violence and intimidation, or they may win the loyalty of the population by providing jobs or maintaining "order" in areas without effective state authority.

In Latin America, such power is overtly visible, while in other regions it operates covertly but just as destructively. Where groups control territory, the illicit economy generates short-term benefits, but in the long term, it destroys public resources and exacerbates inequality.

Some criminal networks infiltrate prisons, turning them into command centers, while others infiltrate ports and logistics hubs to control the movement of contraband goods and launder the proceeds.

Smuggling as the main source of income

The trade in illicit goods and services remains the primary source of profit for criminal networks. This includes drugs, weapons, people, fuel, gold, timber, and wildlife. Drug trafficking remains the core of the global criminal economy, despite the increasing fragmentation of supply chains. Different groups specialize in specific stages—from cultivation and processing to logistics and distribution—forming temporary partnerships.

In many cases, criminals successfully adapt to changes. For example, the illegal fuel trade in the Sahel has grown due to differences in subsidies, while rising global gold prices have stimulated illegal mining and exports. International sanctions have also provided an incentive for new smuggling channels.

According to UNODC estimates, coca and opium poppy plantations continue to expand, with cocaine production reaching record levels by 2023, and Afghanistan and Myanmar remaining the largest opium producers.

New technologies and artificial intelligence

Online fraud has become a multi-billion dollar industry, with large groups from Southeast Asia, Eastern Europe, and Africa operating physical and virtual "deception centers." Fraudsters are increasingly using artificial intelligence to create convincing schemes to defraud individuals and businesses.

The expansion of online gambling and cryptocurrency transactions has facilitated money laundering. In the Mekong region, the casino and virtual asset industry has become one of the main platforms for transnational "laundromat" operations by criminal networks.

Deadly levels of violence

According to UNODC estimates, organized crime claimed approximately 95,000 lives annually from 2000 to 2023—the same number as armed conflict. Latin America and the Caribbean remain the most dangerous regions, with a homicide rate of 19.7 per 100,000 people in 2023, compared to 11.9 in sub-Saharan Africa.

Around 22 percent of all intentional homicides worldwide are linked to criminal gangs, and in the United States, this figure reaches 50 percent. Moreover, the violence is directed not only against competitors or the authorities, but also against civil society: journalists, human rights activists, and entrepreneurs. Between 2020 and 2022, approximately 200 journalists were killed, 20 percent for reporting on crime.

Economic and social losses

Criminal networks undermine the economy, hindering investment and sustainable development. In several Latin American countries, the volume of illicit financial flows from the cocaine trade is comparable to the value of all agricultural exports. In one West African country, losses from illegal gold mining exceed annual government spending on healthcare.

Criminal proceeds fuel corruption, weaken institutions, and fuel a vicious cycle: economic inequality, environmental degradation, and increased violence lead to political instability and further conflict.

A threat to human rights and sustainable development

Organized crime violates fundamental human rights, from the right to life and security to freedom of speech. Human trafficking entails exploitation, violence, and slave labor, while criminal groups' control over territory makes it impossible to protect citizens and undermines trust in the state.

25 years of the UN Convention against Transnational Organized Crime

Based on the results of 25 years of operation UN Convention against Transnational Organized Crime (Palermo Convention), UNODC identifies ten priority areas for action, ranging from systematic data collection and civil society participation to strengthening international cooperation and integrating gender and human rights approaches.

The report emphasizes that no single State can address this threat alone, and that the implementation of the Convention remains the primary global instrument for protecting against transnational crime and supporting victims.

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November 11, 2025 UN

The top news of the day at the UN and around the world: the situation in Sudan, fundraising for internally displaced persons, the report of the International Criminal Court, sustainable cooling technologies.

The situation in Sudan

Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs Tom Fletcher arrived in Sudan. In Port Sudan, he met with representatives of the authorities, partner organizations, and the diplomatic community. The Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs warns that the situation in North Darfur remains volatile. Although large-scale clashes have subsided, sporadic fighting and drone activity continue. Civilians face threats of looting, forced recruitment and gender-based violence.

Assistance to internally displaced persons

The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) today launched its annual global fundraising campaign to assist displaced persons and returnees ahead of the winter months. The campaign's goal is to raise at least $35 million. The funds will be used to repair damaged homes, insulate shelters, provide heating and blankets for children and the elderly, and purchase medicines and hot meals. As UNHCR notes, freezing temperatures have already set in in Afghanistan, leaving thousands of families without adequate shelter. Ukraine is experiencing its fourth winter of full-scale war, with millions of residents increasingly in need of assistance.

ICC report

The annual report of the International Criminal Court (ICC), presented today to the UN General Assembly, emphasizes the need to strengthen cooperation with States and protect the Court's independence. ICC President Tomoko Akane stated that the Court continues to fulfill its mandate despite growing pressure. According to the report, during the reporting period, the Court issued 382 judgments, and significant progress was made in trials for crimes in Darfur, Libya, the Central African Republic, Afghanistan, Palestine, and the Philippines.

Sustainable cooling

Shifting to sustainable cooling methods could be key to protecting people and the planet from the effects of rising heat. Technologies such as passive, energy-efficient, and hybrid cooling with minimal energy consumption could help reduce greenhouse gas emissions, save up to $43 trillion, and protect 3 billion people from extreme temperatures, according to a new report from the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) presented at the UN Climate Change Conference (COP30) in Belém, Brazil.

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